MTV News |
- Kristen Stewart Would 'Definitely' Want Role In 'Wanted 2'
- Sean Garrett Talks Finalizing Deal With Lil Wayne, New Mixtape
- Justin Bieber's 'Somebody To Love' Video, Featuring Usher, Premieres
- 'Jonah Hex' Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need To Know
- 'Cyrus': Bad Seed, By Kurt Loder
- 'Jonah Hex': Dead Man Walking, By Kurt Loder
- Drake's Family Tree Extends From Childhood Pals To Kanye West
- Rihanna Is Working On 'Positive, Explosive' Tracks With Sean Garrett
- Lil Boosie Indicted For First-Degree Murder
- Drake Shows 'Vulnerable' Side In Documentary, Hip-Hop Experts Say
- Kristen Stewart Says She's 'Having Fun' Promoting 'Eclipse'
- Eminem Says He Felt Like 'Bugs Bunny' In Rehab
- E3 2010: Highlights From The Show Floor
- Jeremy London Kidnapped, 'Forced' To Smoke Drugs
- Tupac Shakur Remembered By Rick Ross, Bun B At Georgia Benefit Show
- Megan Fox Hopes She's 'Lucky Enough' To Have A Long Career
- Drake: <i>So Far Gone</i> Was A 'Teaser' For <i>Thank Me Later</i>
- Kristen Stewart Relates To Bella 'Generally' In 'Eclipse'
- Eminem Says 'Slim Shady' Wasn't Right for <i>Recovery</i>
- Dr. Dre Says Leaked 'Under Pressure' Was 'An Incomplete Song'
| Kristen Stewart Would 'Definitely' Want Role In 'Wanted 2' Posted: 18 Jun 2010 03:52 AM PDT 'But I wouldn't want to be in a mindless, blow-up movie,' the star tells MTV News of action flick aspirations.
For the last few months, Kristen Stewart has been rumored to be the director's pick to take over for Angelina Jolie as the female lead in a sequel to 2008's ultraviolent "Wanted." While the "Eclipse" star says she can't confirm or deny the talk, she told MTV News it's a project she wouldn't pass on.
"I mean, like, it's weird to answer questions like this. The only two projects that I'm confirmed in now are 'On the Road' and 'Breaking Dawn' 1 and 2," Stewart hedged. But would she be into the assassin role if she were, in fact, being considered for the part? "Yes. Definitely, as long as it was good and I mean, it's really exciting to see [that could be an opportunity]," she admitted. " 'Wanted' was a great movie, like, James McAvoy makes that movie different than most other action movies because he's a real guy, and I feel like most action movies don't have that. So if it had that [element], definitely. But I wouldn't just want to be in a mindless, blow-up movie. I'm not into it." Since we were on the topic of the Hollywood rumor mill, Stewart also addressed gossip that had her making her London stage debut soon. "People have been asking me that. That's so weird. I don't know where that came from," she said. "I would love to. That's also something that really intimidates me and I have no experience in it. But I would want to, definitely. I'm just not doing that right now." Would you like to see Kristen in "Wanted 2"? Tell us in the comments! We'll be live at the L.A. premiere of "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" on Thursday, June 24. Tune in to Movies.MTV.com at 9:30 ET (8:30 Central) for our red-carpet webcast, and watch us chat with Robert, Kristen, Taylor and all your favorite stars. And don't forget to submit your burning 'Eclipse' questions! Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Related Videos |
| Sean Garrett Talks Finalizing Deal With Lil Wayne, New Mixtape Posted: 18 Jun 2010 03:52 AM PDT 'Wayne embraced me with open arms,' singer/songwriter tells Mixtape Daily of Cash Money deal.
Don't Sleep: Necessary Notables Mixtape: The Inkwell Headliner: Sean Garrett Key Collaborations: "She Geeked" (featuring Gucci Mane and Tyga), "Summer Love" (featuring Bun B and Yo Gotti) and "Girls on Girls" (featuring Lil Wayne and T-Pain)
Essential Info: Sean "The Pen" Garrett always has to be on point, because he might have to switch modes at any given moment. The Grammy winner has his singer hat on one minute, then he has to get right back into his songwriter/producer duties when he gets a call from a T.I. or Rihanna or Jamie Foxx, who just took a song Sean wanted to keep for his own album. The Atlanta native said he doesn't mind; he's elated to be active. His next mixtape, The Inkwell, drops in a few weeks. "The Inkwell is sort of like the album before the album," Sean said recently in New York. "As a creative person, creative artist, you have to sort of spoon-feed your audience. I was an artist well before I became 'The Pen.' With all of that, a lot of people have had the opportunity to hear my music on other people. So sort of representing yourself as an artist, I want my albums to be classic but creative, where people are excited to hear my music. I want people to look at me as an artist as someone that's fun and at the same time intricate, but at the same time not typical. "The Inkwell is the introduction to Sean Garrett the artist, officially," the crooner added. "The first single 'She Geeked' is real ill, real street, but sexy. All the ladies like it. It's me, Gucci Mane and Tyga from Young Money. It's just super swagged-out. My music ... I don't wanna call it R&B. It's just swag music. If you can relate to the street, you can relate to my music. If you can relate to R&B, you can relate to my music. If you can relate to urban, you can relate to my music. If you can relate to mainstream, you can relate to my music. The Inkwell is a collaboration of great artists that I expect to create music. It gives people a great look on who Sean Garrett is. I got a smash with Rocko, smash with Roscoe Dash. Of course Gucci Mane, of course Lil Wayne, Bun B, Yo Gotti, Nicki Minaj. Should I stop? It's real ill. The more I work on it, which I'm pretty much done, the more excited I get." After The Inkwell drops, Garrett will be focusing on the launch of his album. He's close to finalizing a deal with Cash Money Records. Lil Wayne brought the deal to the table before he went to prison. "I really got a lot of respect for Wayne," Sean said. "Wayne embraced me with open arms before he went on a little vacation. He took me on tour with him. He was really open arms about rocking with him. He put me on the pilot seat going on right before him. I got a lot of respect for [Cash Money], because it represents where music is going as far as really believing in yourself and not just being in a box. Just creating your own style, your own movement and believing in your team. Cash Money is really family-orientated. I can bring a lot to Cash Money, in reference to what I do, developing their other artists, helping them to travel across the water. They've got artists they are trying to break internationally. It's sort of a win/win situation." Sean has been on the road, opening for Gucci Mane, and he said he's about to go on tour with Cash Money/ Young Money family member Drake. Other Heat This Week » DJ Drama and Gucci Mane - Mr. Zone 6 For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines or follow the Mixtape Daily team on Twitter: @shaheemreid and @mongosladenyc. Related Videos |
| Justin Bieber's 'Somebody To Love' Video, Featuring Usher, Premieres Posted: 17 Jun 2010 07:24 AM PDT Dance-heavy clip appropriately debuts on 'So You Think You Can Dance.'
While Usher was making everyone say "OMG" with his performance on Thursday night's (June 17) "So You Think You Can Dance" results show, it was protégé Justin Bieber who had teenage girls everywhere tuning in to catch the premiere of his "Somebody to Love" video, featuring, of course, Usher.
"You guys are fans of Justin Bieber, right?" Usher asked the crowd, who enthusiastically agreed. "It's gonna be an incredible video." The clip was shot in May and was directed by Dave Meyers (Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne). While Bieber had previously teased his dancing skills in the "Baby" video, he really channeled Usher's smooth moves in this newest clip. There's even one special female backup dancer who dances one-on-one with Bieber. While Bieber's videos thus far have had a story line, this one is really just Bieber and various dancers backing him up for the club-friendly pop tune, while he and Usher display their keen skills in all things pop-and-lock. Perhaps as a nod to his song on the "Karate Kid" soundtrack, there are ninja dancers showing off their martial-arts skills amid flames. There's even a part where Bieber rides a bicycle, but dancing definitely takes center stage. "[We're] bringing Justin into the world of dance on this one, giving Justin the chance to integrate to different styles of dance," Meyers said about the clip. "So we kind of kept it simple with the art direction, just real graphic and really highlighting the dance. No big story lines, no crowds of people, just real clean." What did you think of the "Somebody to Love" video? Share your thoughts in the comments! Related Artists |
| 'Jonah Hex' Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need To Know Posted: 18 Jun 2010 05:01 AM PDT Before heading off to the Wild West with Josh Brolin and Megan Fox, check in with our cheat sheet.
The 2010 summer-movie season has given us swords-and-sandals epics, superhero melees and a cavalcade of 3-D animated blockbusters. What we haven't yet seen is a straight-up western, partly because that gun-toting, tobacco-chewing genre has largely fallen out of favor in Hollywood. All that changes Friday (June 18), as "Jonah Hex" rides into theaters in a storm of CGI dust and supernatural-inspired storytelling. Josh Brolin stars as Hex himself, a facially scarred bounty hunter with a taste for bullets, broads and revenge. His adversary is John Malkovich's Quentin Turnbull, who thinks it would be a good idea to unleash the fires of hell on the entire planet. Hex doesn't think that's such a swell idea, plus Turnbull's the dude who killed his family and hot-branded his face, so a quest for vengeance sounds like a pretty good idea. Before you take your own quest to the cinema this weekend, be sure to check out MTV News' cheat sheet: everything you need to know about "Jonah Hex." Wrangling the Horses Brolin began circling the role of Jonah in late 2008 and stayed interested even as directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor ("Crank") parted ways with the production over creative differences. Why did Brolin stay on? "When I first read it, I thought, 'Oh my God, it's awful!' " Brolin told MTV News. "And then I had a moment a week later, and I thought, 'Why is it awful? Maybe the thing to do is to do the most awful movie I can find.' " Malkovich found the movie in early '09, followed shortly by Megan Fox as a Wild West prostitute named Lilah. In April, we got our first look at the Louisiana-based production, thanks to some rather revealing on-set pics of Fox. Not to be outdone by his sultry co-star, Brolin made his presence as Jonah known in June, when the first photos surfaced of the actor in full, facial prosthetics. Enter the Hex Neither do we, but the whole thing seemed to be shaping up quite nicely. Comic-Con brought us the film's first poster and fresh promo pics followed in the fall. Then trouble set in. Re-shoots kicked off in January of this year, intended to fix unspecified problems with the footage and to be overseen by "I Am Legend" director Francis Lawrence, who was hired as a consultant. And as the June release date approached, fans started to wonder when the first trailer would arrive. It finally appeared at the very end of April — and it looked fairly rad — but questions remained. Days before the trailer dropped, Brolin himself told us the film was very much in flux. "We're still in the process of solidifying that tone," he said. "There's a lot of humor to use in this cut. We've been going, 'How much humor do we use? Do we stay with the emotional line of the story? How can we release some of the exposition so we can just rely on the action?' All this kind of sh--. We're in the midst of it, man!" We're Going Straight to the Wild Wild West The sneak peeks certainly look good: there's Jonah facing off against Turnbull; Jonah and Lilah trying to get out of a jam and then showing off their shooting skills; Jonah getting a little sensitive about his disfigured face; and Jonah riding a horse with a Gatling gun strapped to its side. So will fans come out in support of this latest comic book adaptation? Is there a chance there will be more cinematic "Jonah" coming down the line? Producers have certainly planned for that possibility. "They leave it open for a sequel," Fox told us. "They tweaked the script so there might be a sequel if necessary." Check out everything we've got on "Jonah Hex." For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com. Related Videos Related Photos |
| 'Cyrus': Bad Seed, By Kurt Loder Posted: 17 Jun 2010 12:39 AM PDT Jonah Hill goes dark.
Jonah Hill has been a reliable comic presence in films for half a dozen years now. But in his Judd Apatow movies — especially "Superbad" — we began to see that he was capable of more than just roly-poly second-banana parts. So it's been a pleasure to discover, in "Get Him to the Greek," that Hill also has the makings of a convincing romantic lead; and now, in "Cyrus," to find him at home in the darkly devious role of an overgrown mama's boy from Hell. The picture is funny, but it has stalker-flick overtones that are unsettling, and the deft assurance with which Hill navigates its ambiguous narrative is impressive. The movie opens on John (John C. Reilly), an L.A. film editor and emotional basket case. He lives alone in a dreary apartment and has just learned from his ex-wife Jamie (Catherine Keener) that she's getting married again. Jamie is still John's best friend; she wants him to find a new love of his own, and she invites him to a party where there'll be lots of possibilities. John gets loaded, though, and his come-ons to various women in attendance grow increasingly pathetic. ("I'm in a tailspin," he tells one. "I have to make a phone call," she says.) Then, however, he's approached by Molly (Marisa Tomei), who's been watching him and thinks he's sweet. They go back to his place together. They go to bed. ("You're a sex angel," he says gratefully.) Come the dawn, though, she's gone — although she has left behind an encouraging note. She returns the next night, and they have sex again — in fact, they're falling in love. But once more she has to leave. "Are you a secret agent or something?" John asks. Molly is actually a single mom. And when John follows her back to her own apartment, he discovers that she lives with her son, Cyrus (Hill), who's 21 years old, but still neurotically possessive about Molly, and, as we learn, dedicated to repelling any suitors. At first, Cyrus is oddly welcoming. ("It's good to finally have a new dad," he tells John.) Behind John's back, though, this strange man-child is scheming to snuff out his mother's kindling love affair. John is a little perplexed by Molly's relationship with her son. They sing in the bathroom together while Molly's taking a shower. They roll around in the park like a couple of tussling kids. Can John somehow insert himself between these codependent characters and win Molly for his own? Not if Cyrus has anything to say about it. Mumblecore kings Jay and Mark Duplass ("Baghead") wrote and co-directed the movie, as is their usual practice. This time, though, they've been given a budget big enough to hire well-known actors. The picture still has the brothers' familiar indie flourishes — sudden shaky camera zooms and an improvisational looseness — but the lead performers bring a professional heft to the picture that's new to the Duplass oeuvre. The dialogue is sharply funny. (As his battle with Cyrus spins out of control, John hisses, "Do you know what it feels like to be knocked unconscious?") But there are also moments that suggest the story could go in a chillier direction. (When John and Molly are about to have sex in the living room, they suddenly notice Cyrus sitting in the shadows, watching them. "Can I have a hug?" he asks.) For its first half, the film's atmospheric uncertainty keeps us wondering which way it will go. The movie isn't entirely successful — it's sometimes too loose — but it's an unusual ride. And like Cyrus, we keep holding on. Check out everything we've got on "Cyrus." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| 'Jonah Hex': Dead Man Walking, By Kurt Loder Posted: 18 Jun 2010 03:52 AM PDT The venerable comic-book cowboy comes to life ... sort of.
"Jonah Hex" is about as anti- as a hero can get. It's not just his chewed-up cowboy hat, his bullet-riddled duster and his perma-surly disposition. It's the melted skin running down one side of his face and the ugly hole torn in the flesh next to his mouth (which makes whiskey-drinking a messy enterprise, but not — as we see just before he shoots up a barroom full of bad guys — an impossible one). In cooking down 38 years' worth of DC comics for "Jonah Hex," the new movie, director Jimmy Hayward and his writers have produced a lumpy soup of western action and supernatural shenanigans, heavily spiced with narrative confusion. The story leaps back and forth in time, and while the picture is sometimes funny, possibly intentionally, at some points it's anybody's guess what's going on. In playing Jonah, Josh Brolin is stuck with a character whose facial constriction reduces him to little more than a walking bad attitude — he's like Clint Eastwood's old Man with No Name in the Sergio Leone westerns but without the warmth. The time is just after the Civil War (at least when it's not during the Civil War). We learn that Jonah was framed for the betrayal of his Confederate battle unit, which resulted in the death of his friend, Jeb Turnbull (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). Jeb's demented father, Quentin (John Malkovich in full cuckoo mode), retaliated by killing Jonah's wife and son, and disfiguring his face with a red-hot branding iron. Now (or sometimes now) Jonah roams the West as a bad-ass bounty hunter, his only love connection a beautiful whore named Lilah (Megan Fox). When Ulysses S. Grant (Aidan Quinn), president of the newly reunited States, learns that Turnbull is creating a "super-weapon" that will be a "nation-killer," he recruits Jonah to stop him. Our battered hero is well-equipped to do so. After a close call with death some years back, Jonah was left with one foot in the spirit world; and so while he spends much of the movie being shot and beaten, he appears to be unkillable. He's attended by a pack of hellhounds ("I wouldn't try to pet 'em if I was you") and has the useful gift of bringing dead men back to life with a touch of his hand. ("I'm sorry I killed you," he tells one corpse, after raising him from the grave. Says the dead guy: "I'd better be getting back under ground.") Jonah also has a taste for esoteric weaponry — saddle-mounted Gatling guns, dynamite-firing crossbow pistols — and a talent for dodging bullets by simply leaning back a bit to let them fly by (past our madly rolling eyes). The lovely Lilah is no slouch in the slick department, either: When she and Jonah are handcuffed to an overhead rod, the cuffs suddenly snap free, and she brandishes a lock pick. "My mama didn't raise no fool," she says. (To which we reply, "What the hell ... ?") Despite the picture's wall-to-wall uproar — train-jackings, bullet storms, incessant detonations — there's little excitement to it. The action is furious from the outset and remains at that level throughout, increasingly diluting its intended effect. And the dialogue, which I take to be satirical, never quite meshes with the film's heavy violence. Like its half-dead protagonist, the movie never comes completely alive. Check out everything we've got on "Jonah Hex." For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Drake's Family Tree Extends From Childhood Pals To Kanye West Posted: 17 Jun 2010 03:14 AM PDT Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, Bun B and many others are also influential in Drizzy's hip-hop journey.
Hip-hop phenom Drake might only be 23 years old, but his roots in the rap world run quite deep. His debut album, Thank Me Later (which dropped this week) is the result of years of studying with a handful of masters, toiling in the mixtape circuit and traveling across North America in an effort to synthesize his unique style and build his credibility. But who is connected to the man born Aubrey Graham? As you can see in his hip-hop family tree, there are quite a few branches in Drake's musical story.
October's Very Own Noah "40" Shebib: Drake's musical partner produced the bulk of Thank Me Later, and in the past, he served as the rapper's road manager, engineer and lifeline as he ran up thousands of dollars on his credit card for the two to follow Lil Wayne on tour while they worked on So Far Gone. Oliver El-Khatib: Oliver functions as Drizzy's creative director, weighing in on the majority of decisions in the lyricist's career outside the recording booth. He posts to the OVO blog frequently, highlighting the tastes of the collective, from fashion to music. Oliver introduced Drake to the music of tourmates Francis and the Lights. Niko: One of Drake's longtime friends from Toronto, Niko introduced the rapper to his own barber when the former "Degrassi" star needed a fresh look. The two are often together, and in his Thank Me Later album credits, Drizzy tells his friend he thought he was an only child until he met Niko, whom he calls "my closest confidant." Instrumental Allies Jas Prince: The son of legendary Houston hip-hop pioneer J. Prince, the younger Jas found Drake on MySpace and urged Lil Wayne to listen to the upstart artist. Lil Wayne: The Cash Money Records superstar took Drake under his wing and offered the then-unknown rapper recording advice, telling his protégé to speak his own truth first and worry about making words rhyme later. Drizzy adhered to the wise words for his next project, his breakthrough mixtape, So Far Gone. Homies From Day One Boi-1da: This Toronto producer manned the boards for Drake's biggest hit, "Best I Ever Had." Along with 40, Boi-1da was instrumental in helping to translate So Far Gone's moody sound into a more polished musical landscape for Thank Me Later. Trey Songz: The Virginia crooner was featured on Drake's second mixtape, Comeback Season, and his very first video, the independently produced "Replacement Girl," which garnered minor play on BET. The two formed a bond over music and quickly became friends, collaborating on So Far Gone and Trey's Ready. Young Money/ Cash Money Birdman: While Lil Wayne says "like father, like son" when referring to the CM boss, Drizzy has been known to shout "like uncle, like nephew" in regards to the stunna. Mack Maine: The president of Young Money, Mack helps oversee the crew's business, which includes Drake, who appeared on the We Are Young Money compilation. Nicki Minaj: YM's other breakout star, this Queens femcee appeared with Drake on the cover of the May 2010 XXL magazine. In rhyme and in interviews, Drizzy is known to profess his love for his labelmate. Cortez Bryant: Lil Wayne's longtime manager, this New Orleans resident also manages Drake, in conjunction with one of Kanye West's managers, Gee Roberson, who runs Hip-Hop Since 1978 with partner Kyambo Joshua. H-Town Connect Bun B: The UGK rapper is an unofficial mentor of sorts to Drizzy, collaborating with the upstart on his So Far Gone mixtape and his debut. Drake returned the favor, appearing on Bun's upcoming album, Trill O.G., on a track called "Put It Down." J. Prince: The Rap-A-Lot Records founder is father to Jas Prince, who helped discover Drake, and he also serves as one of the executive producers on Thank Me Later. Mentors Jay-Z: Drake went on the record on "Fear," revealing how influential the Brooklyn MC is to his life. "I never died when 'Pac died, but I probably will when Hov does," he rapped. Kanye West: The producer's 808s & Heartbreak helped serve as the template for Drake's So Far Gone mixtape and Thank Me Later, as the Toronto rapper burrowed liberally from West's vulnerable confessions paired with catchy choruses and melodic rhymes. Gee Roberson: Drake profusely thanks Roberson, a member of his management camp and former Roc-A-Fella Records employee. Roberson, an executive at Atlantic Records, helped shape the young star's career and is guiding his evolution to what presumably will be multimedia stardom, including music, movies and whatever other opportunities arise. Which of Drake's musical family members do you think is most influential? Share your thoughts in the comments! Don't miss the "Drake: Better Than Good Enough" documentary, airing Wednesday, June 23, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV! Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Rihanna Is Working On 'Positive, Explosive' Tracks With Sean Garrett Posted: 16 Jun 2010 11:50 PM PDT 'Her album is definitely gonna be way more exciting, happy,' songwriter says.
Rihanna channeled her personal life into her last album, Rated R, a dark collection of songs that touched on her experience with former flame Chris Brown, who assaulted her just before the 2009 Grammys. For her follow-up, she and her collaborators are promising something more energetic. Rihanna recently told Elle that she's much happier these days, and gushed about how her new beau, baseball player Matt Kemp, keeps her "sane." And according to songwriter Sean Garrett, who has been in the studio with Rihanna recently, her new music reflects this state of mind.
"I can definitely say that her album is definitely gonna be way more exciting, happy," Garrett told MTV News. "I hope she doesn't mind me saying this. I love Rihanna. She's fun, she's like a sister, and I tend to think she doesn't really take herself too seriously. And I think that's what this album is gonna be about. "Remember when Rihanna was just the little girl from the island and she was just having fun with 'Pon de Replay' and enjoying life?" Garrett continued. "It always seemed like, 'Dag, she has that thing.' And it wasn't so serious until the incident happened. And everything became so serious. That's just life. But I'm just happy to see her back. And I can definitely say the records that we've been working on are very positive and very explosive. Heavy in the club." In addition to Garrett, producer David Guetta said he wants to work with Rihanna and help her revisit her "Umbrella" days. "Well, you know, I'm a DJ, so I make beats that make you want to dance," Guetta told MTV News. "And I think she was one of the first to do that in that urban world, so you know, I think it would be good for her to do it again." What musical direction would you like to see Rihanna go on her next album? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists |
| Lil Boosie Indicted For First-Degree Murder Posted: 17 Jun 2010 05:40 AM PDT Rapper is already in jail for violating probation.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, rapper Lil Boosie was indicted on a first-degree murder charge by a grand jury Thursday (June 17), stemming from an incident in October that left one man dead. Two other men, Michael Louding and Adrian Pittman, were also indicted on similar charges, according to Louisiana CBS News affiliate WAFB. The Trill Entertainment rapper and his associates were indicted for multiple drug-possession charges as well. Police records say Boosie and the two men fired shots into the home of Terry Boyd, then 35. The rapper allegedly was in possession of ecstasy, codeine and marijuana. All three men were charged with conspiracy for their part in the act, police say. A district attorney said the death penalty was not out of the question. Currently, Boosie is in jail after a judge ordered him to prison for violating his probation. In November, the rapper was immediately taken into custody after authorities discovered Boosie was leaving his house during home confinement. Prior to his imprisonment, the rapper was facing jail time after he reached a plea deal on a previous drug rap. Boosie was sentenced to two years in jail in September; his agreement helped him avoid facing upward of 10 years behind bars after his original sentence was suspended. "I'm ready to get this behind me," Boosie told the judge at the time, just a week before he was scheduled to go to trial. Boosie was in the midst of releasing his latest album, Superbad: The Return of Boosie Bad Azz, during his last set of legal troubles. At the time, he thought he would only be going away for a few months. "I gotta go away for, like, 10 months to a year," Boosie told MTV News in October last year. "It's just a minor setback for a major comeback. I was gonna take 'em to trial, but I'm not gonna take them to trial. They offered me a deal. In Louisiana, you can't really win, bruh. So I'm gonna do my year, come back home, step it up even more. I leave on November 9." Related Artists |
| Drake Shows 'Vulnerable' Side In Documentary, Hip-Hop Experts Say Posted: 17 Jun 2010 05:48 AM PDT 'Drake: Better Than Good Enough' airs Wednesday, June 23, at 10 p.m. on MTV.
An early cut of the documentary "Drake: Better Than Good Enough," airing Wednesday at 10 p.m. on MTV, was screened for hip-hop journalists Thursday (June 17) at the MTV offices. The doc — which is still being shot — follows Drake on his Away From Home Tour, but also shows intimate moments with his family, vocal coach and inner circle and the recording of his just-released debut, Thank Me Later. In the footage, we see Drizzy recording the song "Show Me a Good Time" and learn why Drake only writes his rhymes on a BlackBerry, among other intimate moments.
"What was interesting is that I didn't know Drake's mom was sick," The Source Executive Editor Amy Andrieux said shortly after the screening. "To see him going into his grind — knowing that now — is incredible. I know family is important to a lot of artists, but a lot of people don't realize how much effort you have to put in these days. I think that was the most prominent thing about the entire documentary from what we saw. As a rapper, yeah, there's a certain amount of grind you have to do. There's constant effort. But it doesn't mean you're nice [on the mic], you're dope. But Drake is doing whatever it takes to be that and to maintain his grind. That was really interesting to see it in film, 'cause you don't see that." "The most revealing parts of the clips that we saw from the Drake special are the ones he didn't necessarily mean to be revealing," multimedia personality Miss Info said. "Personally, I think he's a professional, and I think there are no real candid moments with him. I think he's aware of what's going on and what he's going to keep to himself. The revealing parts to me were the little observations that this guy, rather than having a million weed carriers, a bunch of groupies alongside while he performs, he had his vocal coach there. He's taking vocal lessons in his tour bus. He's wearing Debussy T-shirts, a classical composer. Those are the things to me that stood out. Rather than the 'I'm truly happy to be here, and I hope this moment lasts forever.' " ThisIs50.com's Jeremy Bettis said he was also surprised to see Drake and his coach. "The part that I liked the most [in the documentary] was the part seeing him training with his vocal coach," Bettis said. "That's the vulnerable part a lot of artists don't want to show. But to see that he actually puts work in and he knows that he can better himself, that was the dopest part I've seen. His work ethic is crazy. It shows with the records he puts out, the videos he puts out, the performances. He was at Summer Jam one day, flew out the same to go to London to do a show. It shows the work. "I think it's Drake's consistency," Bettis added about what makes the 23-year-old such a bankable superstar already. "He makes good records. He's got a great team around him, obviously, great influences: the Jay-Zs, Kanyes, the Waynes. He knows what he's doing. He's not the average dumb artist just throwing out records. He has a plan, and he's following that plan." What behind-the-scenes footage are you looking forward to in the upcoming documentary? Let us know in the comments! Don't miss the "Drake: Better Than Good Enough" documentary, airing Wednesday, June 23, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Kristen Stewart Says She's 'Having Fun' Promoting 'Eclipse' Posted: 17 Jun 2010 05:54 AM PDT 'Now, I'm not nervous about what I say,' actress tells MTV News.
Kristen Stewart is having fun. Now, that might not sound like a groundbreaking statement. After all, the "Twilight" actress is a star of one of the decade's single biggest franchises, not to mention the fact that her character is at the center of a romantic tug-of-war between heartthrobs Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner. But Stewart has sometimes come under scrutiny for appearing less than enthused, even uncomfortable, during interviews.
While out promoting "Eclipse," though, a visibly upbeat Stewart told MTV News that she's having a lot of fun promoting the franchise's upcoming third installment, due June 30. "I'm not forcing myself to do it. I'm actually just naturally having more fun with it," she said of doing press for the movie. "You get to talk about stuff that you normally don't really think about, so there's an interesting aspect to it." Stewart said that her outlook has changed because she's grown more relaxed and less self-conscious about the kinds of topics she's asked to address during interviews. "The only thing that really freaked me out before was just getting nervous about what I said," she explained. "Now, I'm not nervous about what I say — just because I know what I want to say. Before, I didn't. I had nothing to say. As an actor, it's like, 'OK, cool, I'm so interesting and I'm just going to sit here and talk about myself and look like that's important to other people.' That was always hard for me to do, so I looked, like, rude or whatever. But I'm having more fun with it now, as you can probably tell!" KStew is feeling less nervous about doing press these days: Do you think she gets a bad rap about her interviews? Tell us in the comments! We'll be live at the L.A. premiere of "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" on Thursday, June 24. Tune in to Movies.MTV.com at 9:30 ET (8:30 Central) for our red-carpet webcast, and watch us chat with Robert, Kristen, Taylor and all your favorite stars. And don't forget to submit your burning 'Eclipse' questions! Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Eminem Says He Felt Like 'Bugs Bunny' In Rehab Posted: 17 Jun 2010 03:41 AM PDT 'I couldn't concentrate on my problem,' he says of getting attention from fellow patients.
Before Eminem even dropped Relapse last year, he announced plans release a follow-up called Relapse 2 — and then he totally changed his mind. Instead, come June 21, fans will be able to pick up Em's new album Recovery (which was moved up a day after it leaked online). Eminem recently explained the meaning behind the album title in an interview withThe New York Times, revealing that it is a direct reference to managing his ongoing battle with prescription drugs. "Vicodin, Valium and Ambien and, toward the end, which caused my overdose, methadone," Eminem told the Times when asked what he was recovering from. "I didn't know it was methadone. I used to get pills wherever I could. I was just taking anything that anybody was giving to me." The hip-hop superstar also opened up about his stint in rehab. "The first time I went, it was in Brighton, Michigan," he said "The second time, I didn't go to rehab; I just went to a regular hospital. I detoxed in the hospital, and then I came home." Coping with addiction is a demanding process, but due to his celebrity, Em had to deal with a unique set of challenges. The always candid MC said that he later chose to detox in a hospital because his outsize stardom affected the way his fellow addicts in rehab interacted with Em. "I couldn't go back to rehab. I felt like I was Bugs Bunny in rehab," Eminem said. "When Bugs Bunny walks into rehab, people are going to turn and look. People at rehab were stealing my hats and pens and notebooks and asking for autographs. I couldn't concentrate on my problem." Did you prefer the Relapse 2 album title, or are you happy Em opted for Recovery instead? Let us know in the comments. Related Photos Related Artists |
| E3 2010: Highlights From The Show Floor Posted: 17 Jun 2010 03:41 AM PDT Nintendo 3DS, Microsoft Kinect and PlayStation Move took center stage at this year's event.
Another E3 is in the books, and it seems the theme of this year's show was more about breaking new technology barriers than innovating with new games. The three console manufacturers — Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo — each offered a new piece of hardware designed to enhance the gaming experience, with some more impressive than others. Microsoft's Kinect, a motion-capture camera meant to sit below the TV, tracks a player's body movements without the need for a controller. It's a remarkable piece of technology, due in November, but does it make for better gaming? My time with Kinect was focused on a handful of games. The first, "Kinect Adventures," was incredibly fun, with me flailing my real (and digital) arms as I raced down white-water rapids in an inflatable raft. Microsoft also enlisted the help of Turn 10, the developers of the racing title "Forza Motorsport," to make a Kinect version of their game, which allowed me to steer an invisible wheel and direct a high-powered roadster down a serpentine track. There were some sensitivity issues, but for the most part, I was impressed by the fidelity of both experiences, with no part of me missing a controller in my hands. Sony's E3 offering was PlayStation Move, also coming this fall. First revealed at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco earlier this year, Move is another motion-sensing gaming experience, but this one has you holding a wand to track your movements, similar to the Wii. Of the big hardware offerings, PlayStation Move seemed the most underwhelming. Playing through one of Sony's mini-game collections, "Sports Champions," I couldn't help but feel like I was just experiencing a retread of Nintendo's "Wii Sports Resort." Certainly, the graphics looked better, but in terms of accuracy of motion capture and the fun factor, Move didn't feel like it was breaking any new ground. There are dozens of titles coming to Move in the next year, so the success of the product is based on the quality of the software, but the current state of the device is a bit worrying. Nintendo's focus for this year's E3 was on its brand-new handheld, the Nintendo 3DS, planned for release sometime after fall 2010. The concept is that players will be able view 3-D images on this handheld screen without the need for 3-D glasses. That pitch seemed a little outrageous and out of the realm of reality but somehow Nintendo managed to pull it off. Videos and games on the device had visible depth to them, as if the screen went back several more inches. It doesn't — I checked. This is the real deal. While playing through a technology demo of "Metal Gear Solid" for 3DS, I was able to watch the game's hero crawl through thick jungle, surrounded by alligators, bees and other nasties. Despite this all taking place in my hands, I couldn't help but jump when a snake snapped out at me from the screen. It's unfortunate that there's no way to capture the 3DS experience on video, and words hardly do it justice. It's a truly remarkable piece of technology, unlike anything I've seen before, and it's safe to say that it was the highlight of this year's show. For more impressions from the E3 show floor on games like "GoldenEye 007," "Portal 2" and "The Legend of Zelda," head on over to MTV Multiplayer. Check out the Multiplayer blog, updated daily, for even more gaming coverage. Related Photos |
| Jeremy London Kidnapped, 'Forced' To Smoke Drugs Posted: 17 Jun 2010 02:50 AM PDT 'Party of Five' star escaped bizarre kidnapping last week; alleged kidnapper is in custody.
Jeremy London — the actor best known for his roles in "Party of Five" and Kevin Smith's "Mallrats" — was robbed and abducted by a man in Palm Springs, California, on June 10, beginning a five-hour ordeal in which he was held at gunpoint and forced to smoke drugs. Palm Springs police told RadarOnline that London, 37, was attempting to change a flat tire on his vehicle when several men stopped to help him. After London offered to drive the men home, one of them — a man identified as Palm Springs resident Brandon Adams — pulled a gun on the actor, then forced him to drive his own vehicle, smoke drugs and buy alcohol. "[During the kidnapping] he was forced to smoke dope [crack cocaine or amphetamines] and then purchase booze and hand it out in a gang area of Palm Springs," Sergeant Steve Douglas told Radar. London managed to escape around 3 a.m. the next morning, Douglas added. The actor's vehicle was later recovered in the Palm Springs neighborhood where Adams lived. Adams was arrested and charged with several felonies, including kidnapping for ransom with injury, strong arm robbery, carjacking, receiving stolen property and taking a vehicle without the owner's consent. Adams pleaded not guilty, The Associated Press reported Thursday (June 17), but remains in custody with bail set at slightly more than $500,000. A publicist for London confirmed to the AP that the actor was indeed the kidnapping victim and that he is working closely with police in their investigation, adding that he is currently at "an undisclosed location with family and friends." In the past, London has struggled with drug abuse. In an April interview with People magazine, he said he had spent time in a rehabilitation center due to a prescription drug addiction. In 2004, he was arrested for allegedly driving with a suspended license and carrying controlled substances. |
| Tupac Shakur Remembered By Rick Ross, Bun B At Georgia Benefit Show Posted: 17 Jun 2010 02:12 AM PDT 'Tupac really influenced me to just keep it real and not fake around and act like something I'm not,' Roscoe Dash tells MTV News.
Tupac Shakur was known for reppin' Cali throughout his career, but the legendary artist's style has influenced a generation of Southern hip-hop stars as well. The South came out to pay tribute to the icon at the second annual 2Pac Birthday Concert Celebration on Wednesday, which would have been 'Pac's 39th birthday. Rick Ross, Bun B and Roscoe Dash hit the stage at a benefit for the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation at the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Waka Flocka Flame, Gorilla Zoe and rising rapper Pill were in the building. Funnyman Mike Epps also came through to show his support.
"We came out to show love for the OG like we always do for the fallen soldiers about this time," Bun B told MTV News, who added that, more than a decade after his death, 'Pac's influential legacy is still going strong. "We just showing a lot of love to Tupac Shakur right now. Showing love, support to his mother Afeni, and let people know that, when you gone, you not forgotten, ever. Tupac is definitely a perfect example of that." Roscoe Dash, whose rock-infused swagger is ostensibly different from 'Pac's intense street lyricism, said the hip-hop legend inspired him to be himself. "The reason why this day is so important to me is because Tupac really influenced me to just keep it real and not fake around and act like something I'm not," Dash told MTV News. "I just apply that in my everyday life, so I just want to come out here and give back." With all his contributions to music, hip-hop is not forgetting 'Pac anytime soon. "Long live his legacy and R.I.P. Tupac Shakur," said Bun, who also sent a simple message to the late legend: "Happy birthday, big homie." Share your memories of Tupac Shakur in the comments. Related Artists |
| Megan Fox Hopes She's 'Lucky Enough' To Have A Long Career Posted: 17 Jun 2010 01:49 AM PDT 'I haven't done the same thing twice, and I want to keep moving in that direction,' 'Jonah Hex' actress tells MTV News.
Sometimes, it's hard to fathom that Megan Fox's prominent place in the pop-culture conversation only dates back to her 2007 breakout role as Mikaela Banes in director Michael Bay's "Transformers." Since then, she's appeared in four films and has two more completed projects on the way, including this weekend's "Jonah Hex." And if Fox has her way, she'll be kicking around on the big screen for several more years to come.
"If I'm lucky enough," Fox told MTV News about her hopes to make her acting career a longtime commitment. "I mean, I would love the opportunity to do that. But that's not really up to me; that's up to the world." Surely, the world would throw its support behind Fox's desires to stay on the big screen, if only because of her incredibly entertaining offscreen antics (see: her notorious Michael Bay feud). But Fox doesn't believe she's a provocative personality, so much as a misinterpreted one. "I don't feel like I've ever necessarily said anything that was provocative," she said. "I think that people take relatively innocent statements and turn them into provocative things. ... People have no idea how to react. It's not that the statement itself is outrageous." As for what the future holds for Fox aside from "Jonah Hex," the actress will be seen opposite Mickey Rourke in "Passion Play," a film in which she plays a winged circus performer. Additionally, she remains attached to "Fathom," an action film based on the comic book created by the late Michael Turner. Beyond those commitments, Fox has only one concrete plan: mixing it up. "I don't have anything specific, like, a specific genre film that I want to do," she said. "I just want to keep doing things that are completely different, because so far, I haven't done the same thing twice, and I want to keep moving in that direction." Check out everything we've got on "Jonah Hex." For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Drake: <i>So Far Gone</i> Was A 'Teaser' For <i>Thank Me Later</i> Posted: 16 Jun 2010 10:27 PM PDT 'I feel like it ended off on a note that just need to be continued,' Drake tells MTV News of his breakout mixtape.
Drake's Thank Me Later finally arrived this week, but rather than standing as a triumphant announcement of the Toronto rapper's coronation, the collection has turned out to be more of a continuation of the narrative started on his previous effort, the highly influential mixtape So Far Gone. The two projects bookmark 23-year-old Drake's journey into adulthood and the various pitfalls and paranoia that dot his life between successes. He admits it was a conscious decision to pick up on his debut where he left off on his breakout tape.
"This album, I definitely wanted it to be consistent with that sound, because I felt like So Far Gone — the story and the sound — it was like a teaser of a story that I wanted to tell and I feel like it ended off on a note that just need to be continued," Drake told MTV News. "I didn't want to just make this first album and completely forget about everything I had just rapped about and start from a new perspective. I really wanted to continue the story. And that's why I continue with three songs that almost could have been on So Far Gone, which is 'Fireworks,' 'Karaoke' and 'The Resistance.' "Then life changes and things change," he continued. "And you go into 'Over' and you start hearing 'Show Me a Good Time,' 'Fancy,' and it just gets bigger, and sonically, you hear Kanye West and Swizz Beatz and it's like, 'Oh, what's happening?' And then there's still little So Far Gone moments in there, like the end of 'Fancy' — the beat switches. Then 'Light Up' is a real hip-hop moment, and I end with a song called 'Thank Me Now.' Even though it's happy, it's still me rapping and I'm letting you know the story shall continue." Earlier this year, Drake revealed he was learning more about himself through his music. The "Find Your Love" star said putting this project together helped him get a firm grasp on his story and who he is — something he still wrestles with at times. "I'm learning about myself. That's what my music is about," he told MTV News in January. "I don't necessarily know all the time who Drake is. I take it day by day and learn as much as I can about myself. As I learn, I choose to share with my fans. I'm just an artist that isn't scared of being open. My journey, as far as growing into a man, is shared with the people," he added. "My whole life is like that. I grew up on TV; I've always become accustomed to sharing my life with the world. At least now I get to do it in my own words ... so I'm not a character. I have a little more grasp on who I am. I'm more eager to share it now: me growing into an artist is me growing into a man." How would you compare Drake's debut with his mixtape? Was he more introspective on the tape? Tell us your thoughts in the comments. Don't miss the "Drake: Better Than Good Enough" documentary, airing Wednesday, June 23, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Kristen Stewart Relates To Bella 'Generally' In 'Eclipse' Posted: 17 Jun 2010 03:54 AM PDT 'I know what it feels like to be unsure,' actress tells MTV News.
It's not every day that one has to reconcile their romantic feelings toward a sparkling vampire and a hunky werewolf, but it's an emotional conflict Bella Swan faces on a regular basis in the "Twilight" series.
While it's not a struggle Kristen Stewart deals with in her own personal life, that doesn't mean the 20-year-old actress doesn't bring her own experiences into her portrayal of the angst-ridden Bella. "You are who you are," Stewart told MTV News while promoting "Eclipse," the upcoming third installment in the "Twilight" series. "Everything that I've been through definitely informs the way I feel about everything I play, because you can't claim to be a different person just because you're playing Bella." Even though Stewart finds her personal experiences helpful in informing her performance, the actress said she tries not to draw upon specific anecdotes while working. "I try not to be specific about it, though, because it gets muddled," she explained. "You're not playing yourself, so if you start putting your personal details in [a performance], it confuses things. But, definitely, I feel generally inspired, if I can relate to something." As for the aspects of her character Stewart relates to most, the young actress revealed: "I know what it feels like to be unsure. I know what it feels like to be ashamed and having made mistakes and going, 'Hey, it's totally OK to have made that mistake!' I get that, but not specifically." We'll be live at the L.A. premiere of "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" on Thursday, June 24. Tune in to Movies.MTV.com at 9:30 ET (8:30 Central) for our red-carpet webcast, and watch us chat with Robert, Kristen, Taylor and all your favorite stars. And don't forget to submit your burning 'Eclipse' questions! Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Eminem Says 'Slim Shady' Wasn't Right for <i>Recovery</i> Posted: 17 Jun 2010 01:25 AM PDT But Em assures fans that his rowdy alter ego isn't going anywhere: 'Shady still exists.'
Eminem burst on the scene in 1999 with The Slim Shady LP, which introduced the world to Marshall Mathers' manic, violent alter ego Slim Shady. Shady's mercurial behavior has captivated fans throughout Em's career, as Slim took cheeky shots at everyone from 'NSYNC to his own mentor Dr. Dre and murdered his longtime gal pal Kim (only on wax, of course). Recently, the amped-up Shady has taken a backseat to Eminem's candid rhymes about his struggles with fame and addiction. However, Em said that he hasn't completely killed the Shady persona; it's just not right for Recovery. "Shady still exists. But I don't think the subjects on this record call for, you know, 'bring the chainsaws and axes out and murder everyone on this record,' " Em told The New York Times in a recent interview. "There was so much stuff like that off the last record that I felt like I was starting to run it into the ground. I think consciously I went in a different direction with this record." Em has been given a hard time for his hard-hitting rhymes, but when the Times pressed the star about whether he had any regrets about using unsavory terms when referring to women, he maintained that he was simply expressing his feelings honestly. "Anything I've ever said, I certainly was feeling at the time," Eminem said. "But I think I've calmed down a bit. My overall look on things is a lot more mature than it used to be." The star has certainly changed his outlook, as he mentioned in the same Times article, which will run in Sunday's issue, that he supports gay marriage. Eminem's Recovery is set to hit stores June 21. The album was pushed up a day after the much-anticipated follow-up to Relapse leaked online earlier this month. Do you want Slim Shady back, or are you happy Em is giving his alter ego a rest? Let us know in the comments! Related Photos Related Artists |
| Dr. Dre Says Leaked 'Under Pressure' Was 'An Incomplete Song' Posted: 17 Jun 2010 08:44 AM PDT Dre issues statement about the collaboration with Jay-Z that hit the Internet this week.
Not this way, says Dr. Dre. He doesn't want people to hear any of his music before it is done. On Wednesday, an incomplete version of the much-hyped Dre and Jay-Z duet "Under Pressure" leaked to the Internet, and the Doc responded on Thursday (June 17) on the Interscope website. Simply titled "Message from Dre," the statement reads: "I want to set the record straight for everybody who's been waiting to hear my music. The song that's out on the Internet is an incomplete song that I'm still working on. When it's ready, you'll be hearing it from me." "Under Pressure" is a song from Dre's long-awaited Detox album. Neither the song nor the LP has a release date. In the meantime, Interscope and Dre are focused on releasing the potentially blockbuster project from Eminem, Recovery, which lands officially on Monday (June 22). The bootleg of "Under Pressure" has no chorus, at least not the version that was leaked. Keep in mind, Dre has been known to do a few different versions of his songs before he feels they are ready for public consumption. The leaked version featured the Compton icon batting leadoff. "The long-awaited Detox, bitch," Dre said to commence the song. "But maybe I don't wanna stop/ Maybe I don't wanna quit/ Maybe I like ho's/ Maybe I don't want a wife/ Maybe I'm psycho/ ... Maybe we need to breathe some life in this sh--/ Maybe we are the life of this sh--." After a space with no vocals, where the chorus would presumably go, Jay-Z arrives on the song. "Dre, I think I need my sponsor," he says. "Trying to grow, but I just can't seem ta/ Having trouble cleaning up, I'm like FEMA/ All these little haters got me back with the nina/ Got me bringing guns to work, Gilbert Arenas," the Jiggaman adds later in his bars. "I'm in this party/ I'm up to no good/ And I should be ducking these clubs, Tiger Woods." Besides Jay-Z, the collaborators that Dre has had in the lab with him for Detox have been pretty impressive — as expected. Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, the Game, Nas, R. Kelly, Scott Storch, T.I., Nas, 50 Cent and Eminem have all recorded with Dre over the past few years for the album. What do you think of the leaked version of "Under Pressure"? Is it possible for Detox to live up to the hype? Share your opinions in the comments. Related Artists |
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